by Glenice Mills
As I have been seeking the Lord about this year He has been speaking to me about leadership. This is not only about church leadership but leadership of nations.
We saw last year a new arising of the voice of what could be called the ‘average person’. There was a stirring of one’s who were usually quiet and content to go along with what was happening to them. Previously they had willingly accepted the way the leaders of their nation had conducted themselves. However, there is now a deep rumbling discontent coming to the fore changing the way leadership is outworked. People are no longer lying down quietly accepting all that is being told to them by government leaders. Instead there is a questioning, confronting openness being demanded. In fact it is open, honest government, with a greater accountability expected from the leaders towards the people. It is truly democracy at work. This is good as greater requirements are put on those who are positioned to lead. People are becoming more concerned about the character of their leaders. The days of charismatic, endearing leaders with the ‘gift of the gab’ taking the lead is over. The people are not that easily beguiled anymore. It is in fact healthy and is a paradigm shift back to Godly character.
I have been asking the Lord about the areas of leadership and He showed me it is about WHAT leadership looks like, and HOW leadership is done.
A leader represents the country/organization and how they present themselves is a reflection of the people they represent. A leader is also one who is supposed to model appropriate behaviour that the people want to aspire to. For example if a leader is ungodly in their conduct toward the other sex then it shows a picture of the nation as a whole also behaving this way. We have seen the downfall of leaders of nations because of sexual infidelity. This has and is resulting in a higher standard of behaviour expected of those in positions of authority. If this does not happen then respect is lost and mocking and ridicule of the leader and nation results. Italy is a good example of this.
Perhaps one of the saddest indictments upon leadership is the apparent loss and lack of loyalty. There was a time when government leaders were loyal to the Prime Minister/President and to the party/organization they represented. Without loyalty there is no respect. Loyalty and respect go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. Loyalty is being steadfast and faithful in allegiance. We certainly do not see that politically here in Australia.
This year is a year where leadership is going to change on many fronts and in different ways. As the people rise and make their opinions known there will be new leadership with greater accountability demanded by the people. We will also see the increasing rise of ungodly leaders out to shut the opinions of their people, particularly in the Middle East. There will be a great unsettling in European nations as the people increasingly speak out against their leaders. This will be so particularly in Italy, Greece, Spain, France and Portugal.
It will bring increasing volatility in the financial markets that has the potential to trigger world recession. America will arise as a stable voice bringing a settling of the European markets as long as America holds onto its Godly principles. There is an increasing contending between those standing for leadership in America as the people desire to come back to their Christian roots. The standard of behaviour of those in leadership positions throughout key nations will be expected to improve as the people stand with and alongside those who openly speak what is right, and speak of their Christian faith. It is opportunity for the voice of the Christians to be heard, only if they will speak up and speak out against injustice, prejudice and inequality. Common sense will prevail. There are some surprises coming to the Presidential election in America as the Lord does some shaking and exposing of double standards that have the potential to be critical to the outcome of the election. It has the potential to either put America back into position as a leading nation or send them down a road where their power will be belittled and they will actually be the laughing stock of many key nations. It is time for America to humble themselves before Mighty God, acknowledging their need of Him like never before. It is particularly crucial that all pride is repented of, where there has been a thinking of ‘self made’ by one’s own hands, without acknowledgment of God. America is on the cusp of balance tipping one way or the other depending on the heart of its people. America prides itself on being a Christian nation, and now is the time for Truth to be spoken and for its Government leadership to actually take the lead and lead from the Christian faith base.
As they do this nations leaders will be drawn to them and will stand with and support their stand for righteousness. It is the beginning of the separation of the sheep and goat nations and the difference between the two will be more obvious.
The Lord keeps showing me the ADDRESSING OF IMBALANCE so the foundation of truth can come. Society has tried many ‘doctrines’ and gone down lots of roads thinking they have hit the truth - the right way of doing things. However disillusion is waking the people up to question and to search out for ways of making life better.
The disillusion and discontent is actually the fuel for the stirring of the people to speak up, and to call in change. Many have tried to make things happen but the revelation that it is all ‘blowing in the wind’ and comes to nothing is the catalyst for change. This change will bring about greater requirements upon those in leadership positions.
So WHAT will leadership look like?
This year will see many changes in leaders of nations. There is a divine shift back to leaders prepared to stand for what they believe in and to go against the flow of popular opinion if necessary to bring about stability to their nation. The recent release of the movie ‘The Iron Lady’ about Margaret Thatcher is inspiring as we see a woman prepared to make a stand, to lead and to go against the flow of popular opinion in order to bring good. She did not bow to people’s demands, but rather led even if it meant increasing personal unpopularity. She stood for her convictions. That is courage under fire! She is well deserving of a movie about her life and it is great to see her portrayal at this time to remind us of what it is to have true leadership.
The voice of the everyday person will be listened to with a new respect of all who have much to contribute to the good of nations.
There is a contending for democracy in some nations and as the voice of the people arise there will be change and their voices will be heard.
The imbalance of power of key nations will be redressed so that stability will come and the schemes of man’s desire for power in the wrong way will be exposed.
So HOW will leadership be done?
There will be greater accountability with the behaviour of those holding leadership positions. Ungodly behaviour by leaders will not be tolerated and the people will speak out bringing unrest and destabilising power.
It will be less about the ‘celebrity’ of the leader and more about the content of policies. There will be less emotion and more practical resolutions to problems. The media will have to be more balanced in their reporting so any bias will be shut down so a fair and equal measure of debate and reporting will prevail. Superficiality will not suffice. It will be about depth of calibre of the person and what they have to offer to bring resolution to problems. The people will be looking for the honesty and integrity of leaders, ones they can learn to trust.
Leaders are to inspire people. For too long leaders have got by in falsity from a foundation of ‘what’s in it for me’. There will be a shift of thinking to ‘how can I help everyone to come into bigger and better things’.
Leaders must have a vision and be able to take the people along with them so everyone embraces the changes. It will no longer be about factions and power to an elite group saying this is how it is and how it will be but rather about what is best for the nation to take it forward into the new things.
It will require vision, passion, and patriotism and the laying aside of one’s ambition for the good of the people and the nation. Man’s selfish agendas will no longer work, but the big picture vision of planning ahead for not only the short term but long term gain for the good of all.
We are instructed to pray for our leaders, those in authority, and this is a critical time to be doing this. There are many corrupt leaders who have wielded power in very ungodly ways and some will be exposed in coming days. Often much goes on behind the scenes, hidden - however the Lord sees. We cannot fool Him! Many nations are on the cusp of huge change of power and in this time of vulnerability. It is paramount that we pray for Godly leadership.
The Lord alerted me that this year is all about leadership, therefore we must be praying for our leaders. It is on His heart, and we have a responsibility to do all we can to stand for Truth and to pray His will be done in our nation and the nations.
I will write about church leadership in a forthcoming article because unless and until church leadership is in Godly order we cannot expect our own governments to be in order. The two interrelate.
1 John 5:14,15
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Call of Duty
by Belinda Jabore
In the last month or so the Lord has been showing me the words CALL OF DUTY and I have seen it at bus stops, on train stations and in TV commercials - so the Lord has got my attention. I know the Lord has been encouraging me and reminding me of what I am truly here for and not to forget why I am here and my purpose. So I would like to remind you of your plan and purpose. To encourage you that you are more than meets the eye and you are more than what people and the world see in you and what they would say about you. That you are an important plan and strategic plan as His precious man, woman and child of God for His Kingdom, His plans and purposes more than you would ever know or feel.
But there is always a ‘but’ heh!? - ‘but’ we as God’s people need Godly Order - Godly men and women around us, to help us, love us, train and teach us to be all that we are called to be. This is God’s church.
It is essential in these last days so we can accomplish all that God has for us and to make sure we hit the target. So here’s the thing we as God’s army need to have - an Apostle or Apostles who have Prophets around them with the rest of the five fold ministers Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher having the Apostle directing us. Apostles then Prophets must go first then the others as we need them in that order, then we will have Godly order and we should feel safe in God and know that we are in the right place no matter what goes down. This is Godly order. Most of the churches today do not have this order so they are not running to the capacity to what they are called to. Some have Apostles but have no Prophets around them. Some have Prophets but no Apostles or pastors, evangelists and teachers. They might be too heavy on the pastor side or evangelist, teacher side. Sometimes the pastors need to not be pastoral any more but grow into the Apostle or Apostolic, but more often than not they have one or two major five fold missing. They have other five fold but do not have Apostles who should be surrounded by Prophets (in the Office of Prophet) working together with the rest of the other five fold or growing up to Be five fold. Making disciples following The Way, The Truth, and The Life, teaching them to do ALL that I have commanded them to do.
So the church is not functioning to its ultimate power.
The trouble is while all this sorting is going on in the churches there are bombs that go off in the spirit and in the natural then the troops can scatter and loose hope or they don’t know where they fit and they get hurt and wounded and then move away from their call of duty. The Apostles sort the mess out when these bombs go off in the churches and in our lives, that is the Apostle’s job description. The prophets see it coming and point it out to the Apostles (who have already seen it) and then the people. Then the Apostle sorts out all the issues there are and the mess and brings it into Godly order.
These bombs go off and happen in the everyday things that happen in our life. Sometimes it is the devil (enemy) but mostly though it is allowed by God, but we need to expect opposition and resistance and endure it, embrace it, expect it.
When enemy fire or Godly fire comes in our lives it usually hits our weak spots, whether it comes physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally or financially. For instance loosing our jobs which then stops our financial flow, we can get sick for a bit then it effects our family and lifestyle which then causes setbacks, but God is always faithful to give us a way out and provide for us, but maybe not the way we thought.
These things can come in all sorts of forms in our lives and can come from the ones we love and even those closest to us. As much as we love our family they can stop and get in the way of our Call to what God is requiring of us. Family can have problems they want us to fix or come to their rescue. Of course we help them as much as we can but in the end they have to sort it out with God themselves and if they fear God they will understand and allow us to do what God is requiring of us. If they do not know God or fear Him they will stand against us and resist what God has called us to do. When the time comes to stand in front of Him we cannot give the excuse of, “Oh Lord my husband, wife, children, boyfriends/girlfriends or lovers would not let me, my job wouldn’t let me etc….” This will not be acceptable to the Lord.
These bombs are often allowed by God to see where our call of duty lies. Now these bombs are to get us away from God and to distract us from the call of duty on our lives, to get us distracted, make us tired, to wear us out, to get discouraged, to put bitterness and resentment into our hearts, to become offended at men and women and God (then God will not answer our prayer), to become negative, to deny God, the enemy whispering in our ear did God really say that? Anything that will change our position and for us to give up, get distracted by other things and to alter our course and to not do what God has called us to do. To move away from the things and call of God on our life. One of the strategic things the enemy does is to get you on the way to where you are going. Which is into a great victory. Be aware that on the way to your destination that there will be bombs and distractions along the way.
For instance I was watching a documentary on Osama Bin Larden and when the Seals, the special agents (undercover agents), went to get and kill Bin Laden. Oh and by the way they didn’t know this until the last minute what their orders were or where they were going as it was that top secret to the success of the attack. When they were nearly to their destination one of the main Black Hawk helicopters went down right near the target where they were landing and that then ruined their element of surprise. It couldn’t get much worse than that. This was a disaster of the worst kind but it was also a miracle of the God kind, that none of the seals got hurt or injured when the Black Hawk went down. So nevertheless these brave seals went on not forgetting what they were there for and why. Even after many things that they had to overcome the mission was accomplished and the “enemy” killed.
So I say that to say this -things might not be going the way you thought and there have been some bombs thrown into your plans but we must get into our positions and hold our position to seek and do the CALL of God on our lives, to be diligent, to be discipled into the call and watched over by Apostles, Prophets and the rest of the five fold ministers making sure you are on track, not off track and the call of duty is to overcome no matter what gets thrown our way. Did you know that wicked= twisted and off track? Not straight.
Here’s the thing, what were your orders at the start of the year, at the 6 month mark and right now to this point in time? Stick to them! Then find out if you have new orders from your Apostle. They will know the way for you if you are lost or off the track a little. If you have a problem with this Godly order you will not fulfil the Call of God on your life to its full dimension and power.
Apostles are our Generals (who have all five fold gifts working to maximum power) to sort out the mess and Prophets are our eyes (seals) to see what is coming next, they all work together and all the other five fold are in the communications rooms and maning the stations doing their job ready willing and able. The saints including the five fold are there to pray and get ready and be ready to be sent wherever is needed by the Generals. Maybe it is where they are based or maybe to go in teams to help other ministries or people groups in general but the General (Apostle) knows where, why and how to get there and what our mission is. This is our safety.
In this day and age we must have the Godly order of God or else we will not hit the target and we will get lost and loose our momentum and unfortunately a lot will fall away and be deceived as they choose independence and think they will be ok on their own and choose their own agenda and ambition. This then works against God and what He wants accomplished for His Kingdom.
This is not a wise thing to choose. It is difficult enough these days to keep our focus and there are always distractions and bombs going off so we must remember the “CALL OF DUTY” that is on our lives.
What is this you ask? Keep in close to the Apostle and the Prophets Amos 3:7. The Great Commission in Mathew 28:19-20; Follow the 10 commandments of God, and the Unity of the Faith Psalm 33, Ephesians 4, until we all come into the Unity of the Faith; Psalm 86 - Unite my heart to fear Your name, Jude 1:3, Romans 13:9 ALL of us around and accountable in an army of God’s ranking. Apostle with prophets around them and the rest of the five fold complementing these offices held. I have great comfort knowing that I have an Apostle and prophets around me with the rest of the five fold ministers to make sure we get to our destination in God and once there we all hit the target and be successful in our mission.
This is essential in the last days for us to fight and not get distracted from our “CALL OF DUTY”.
In God’s Order Victory is ours!
In the last month or so the Lord has been showing me the words CALL OF DUTY and I have seen it at bus stops, on train stations and in TV commercials - so the Lord has got my attention. I know the Lord has been encouraging me and reminding me of what I am truly here for and not to forget why I am here and my purpose. So I would like to remind you of your plan and purpose. To encourage you that you are more than meets the eye and you are more than what people and the world see in you and what they would say about you. That you are an important plan and strategic plan as His precious man, woman and child of God for His Kingdom, His plans and purposes more than you would ever know or feel.
But there is always a ‘but’ heh!? - ‘but’ we as God’s people need Godly Order - Godly men and women around us, to help us, love us, train and teach us to be all that we are called to be. This is God’s church.
It is essential in these last days so we can accomplish all that God has for us and to make sure we hit the target. So here’s the thing we as God’s army need to have - an Apostle or Apostles who have Prophets around them with the rest of the five fold ministers Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher having the Apostle directing us. Apostles then Prophets must go first then the others as we need them in that order, then we will have Godly order and we should feel safe in God and know that we are in the right place no matter what goes down. This is Godly order. Most of the churches today do not have this order so they are not running to the capacity to what they are called to. Some have Apostles but have no Prophets around them. Some have Prophets but no Apostles or pastors, evangelists and teachers. They might be too heavy on the pastor side or evangelist, teacher side. Sometimes the pastors need to not be pastoral any more but grow into the Apostle or Apostolic, but more often than not they have one or two major five fold missing. They have other five fold but do not have Apostles who should be surrounded by Prophets (in the Office of Prophet) working together with the rest of the other five fold or growing up to Be five fold. Making disciples following The Way, The Truth, and The Life, teaching them to do ALL that I have commanded them to do.
So the church is not functioning to its ultimate power.
The trouble is while all this sorting is going on in the churches there are bombs that go off in the spirit and in the natural then the troops can scatter and loose hope or they don’t know where they fit and they get hurt and wounded and then move away from their call of duty. The Apostles sort the mess out when these bombs go off in the churches and in our lives, that is the Apostle’s job description. The prophets see it coming and point it out to the Apostles (who have already seen it) and then the people. Then the Apostle sorts out all the issues there are and the mess and brings it into Godly order.
These bombs go off and happen in the everyday things that happen in our life. Sometimes it is the devil (enemy) but mostly though it is allowed by God, but we need to expect opposition and resistance and endure it, embrace it, expect it.
When enemy fire or Godly fire comes in our lives it usually hits our weak spots, whether it comes physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally or financially. For instance loosing our jobs which then stops our financial flow, we can get sick for a bit then it effects our family and lifestyle which then causes setbacks, but God is always faithful to give us a way out and provide for us, but maybe not the way we thought.
These things can come in all sorts of forms in our lives and can come from the ones we love and even those closest to us. As much as we love our family they can stop and get in the way of our Call to what God is requiring of us. Family can have problems they want us to fix or come to their rescue. Of course we help them as much as we can but in the end they have to sort it out with God themselves and if they fear God they will understand and allow us to do what God is requiring of us. If they do not know God or fear Him they will stand against us and resist what God has called us to do. When the time comes to stand in front of Him we cannot give the excuse of, “Oh Lord my husband, wife, children, boyfriends/girlfriends or lovers would not let me, my job wouldn’t let me etc….” This will not be acceptable to the Lord.
These bombs are often allowed by God to see where our call of duty lies. Now these bombs are to get us away from God and to distract us from the call of duty on our lives, to get us distracted, make us tired, to wear us out, to get discouraged, to put bitterness and resentment into our hearts, to become offended at men and women and God (then God will not answer our prayer), to become negative, to deny God, the enemy whispering in our ear did God really say that? Anything that will change our position and for us to give up, get distracted by other things and to alter our course and to not do what God has called us to do. To move away from the things and call of God on our life. One of the strategic things the enemy does is to get you on the way to where you are going. Which is into a great victory. Be aware that on the way to your destination that there will be bombs and distractions along the way.
For instance I was watching a documentary on Osama Bin Larden and when the Seals, the special agents (undercover agents), went to get and kill Bin Laden. Oh and by the way they didn’t know this until the last minute what their orders were or where they were going as it was that top secret to the success of the attack. When they were nearly to their destination one of the main Black Hawk helicopters went down right near the target where they were landing and that then ruined their element of surprise. It couldn’t get much worse than that. This was a disaster of the worst kind but it was also a miracle of the God kind, that none of the seals got hurt or injured when the Black Hawk went down. So nevertheless these brave seals went on not forgetting what they were there for and why. Even after many things that they had to overcome the mission was accomplished and the “enemy” killed.
So I say that to say this -things might not be going the way you thought and there have been some bombs thrown into your plans but we must get into our positions and hold our position to seek and do the CALL of God on our lives, to be diligent, to be discipled into the call and watched over by Apostles, Prophets and the rest of the five fold ministers making sure you are on track, not off track and the call of duty is to overcome no matter what gets thrown our way. Did you know that wicked= twisted and off track? Not straight.
Here’s the thing, what were your orders at the start of the year, at the 6 month mark and right now to this point in time? Stick to them! Then find out if you have new orders from your Apostle. They will know the way for you if you are lost or off the track a little. If you have a problem with this Godly order you will not fulfil the Call of God on your life to its full dimension and power.
Apostles are our Generals (who have all five fold gifts working to maximum power) to sort out the mess and Prophets are our eyes (seals) to see what is coming next, they all work together and all the other five fold are in the communications rooms and maning the stations doing their job ready willing and able. The saints including the five fold are there to pray and get ready and be ready to be sent wherever is needed by the Generals. Maybe it is where they are based or maybe to go in teams to help other ministries or people groups in general but the General (Apostle) knows where, why and how to get there and what our mission is. This is our safety.
In this day and age we must have the Godly order of God or else we will not hit the target and we will get lost and loose our momentum and unfortunately a lot will fall away and be deceived as they choose independence and think they will be ok on their own and choose their own agenda and ambition. This then works against God and what He wants accomplished for His Kingdom.
This is not a wise thing to choose. It is difficult enough these days to keep our focus and there are always distractions and bombs going off so we must remember the “CALL OF DUTY” that is on our lives.
What is this you ask? Keep in close to the Apostle and the Prophets Amos 3:7. The Great Commission in Mathew 28:19-20; Follow the 10 commandments of God, and the Unity of the Faith Psalm 33, Ephesians 4, until we all come into the Unity of the Faith; Psalm 86 - Unite my heart to fear Your name, Jude 1:3, Romans 13:9 ALL of us around and accountable in an army of God’s ranking. Apostle with prophets around them and the rest of the five fold complementing these offices held. I have great comfort knowing that I have an Apostle and prophets around me with the rest of the five fold ministers to make sure we get to our destination in God and once there we all hit the target and be successful in our mission.
This is essential in the last days for us to fight and not get distracted from our “CALL OF DUTY”.
In God’s Order Victory is ours!
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